Planetary brusher



June 7, 1938. HQ PAXTN l 2,119,869

PLANETARY BRUSHER Filed June 28, 1935 4 sheets-sheet i wr/ 75 if 10:0@ f 4f@ O y d 474@ 47 o H. PAXTON `lune 7, 1938.

PLANETARY BRUSHERA Filed June 28, 1935 4 Smeets-sheet .s

June 7, 1938.

H. PAXTON PLANETARY BRUSHER Filed June 28, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 7, 1938 PATENT oFFlcE PLANETARY BRUSHER Hale Paxton, Santa Ana,

Calif., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Food Machinery Corporation, a. corporation of Delaware Application June 28,

14 Claims.

My invention relates to the preparation of agricultural produce for market and has particular reference to a machine for washing, drying, polishing, or otherwise treating citrus fruits and the like.

Prior to being packed for shipment, citrus fruits are usually soaked in tanks containing cleaning solution to loosen any dirt, scale or other surface impurities adhering to the surface therecf. The fruit is then conveyed to a brushing machine and thoroughly brushed to remove the loosened impurities.

The brushers generally used in the citrus packing houses comprise a relatively long, narrow 'd' frame in which a plurality of transverse, closely of these brushers and is fed along over the ro-` tating brushes to the other end of the machine.

in order to thoroughly brush the fruit and handle the required quantity thereof, these machines must be of suflicient length to provide the required amount of brushing surface, thus occupying a considerable amount of floor space.

Accordingly, an object of my invention is to provide a fruit brusher having the required capacity and brushing surface, yet occupying a minimum amount of oor space.

ln the aforedescribed transverse brush washer, the fruit tends to remain in the valleys between each pair of the cylindrical brushes until being displaced therefrom and crowded into the next valley by oncoming fruit. After a given lot of fruit is brushed in a transverse brush washer, the machine remains full of residual fruit which must be cleaned out before another lot of fruit can be brushed. The cleaning out operation must be done manually or by a suitable mechanism provided therefor.

It is, accordingly, another object of my invention to provide a fruit brushing machine that will clean itself out without the necessity of providing additional mechanism for accomplishing this operation.

A furthe-r object of my invention is to provide a fruit brushing machine that can be effectively combined with a fruit soaking tank to produce an extremely compact soaking and brushing unit and to eliminate the necessity of providing conveying mechanism for carrying fruit from a soaking tank to a brusher as is the present practice.

in the aforementioned soaking tanks, used in conjunction with the transverse brush washer,

suitable mechanism is usually employed for Sube 1935, Serial No. 28,812 (Cl. 14E-202) merging the fruit in the cleaning solution in order to present the entire surface of each piece of fruit to the solution.

Accordingly, another object of my invention is to provide a combined soaking tank and brusher in which the brushing unit serves as a means for submerging the fruit in the cleaning solution.

Stili' another object of my invention is the provision of a fruit washing machine in which the fruit is scrubbed by the brushing elements of the washer while being submerged in cleaning solution.

Other objects and advantages will be made manifest in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View looking in the direction of the arrow 2 of Fig. l, a portion of the machine being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, horizontal, sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig, 2.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view looking in the direction of the arrow 4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional View taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on th line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of a modied form of my invention.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the machine shown in Fig. 7.

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are fragmentary views showing the operation of a portion of the machine shown in Fig. 7

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the machine shown in Fig. '7.

Referring specically to Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings, I have shown therein a fruit brusher Ill comprising a preferred embodiment of my invention, this brusher including a frame II, a cylindrical fruit brushing unit I2, a brushing unit drive mechanism I3, and a fruit feeding mechanism I4.

The frame I I includes a pair of horizontal bars I5 and I6 as seen in Figs. 1 and 5. The bars I5 and I6 are supported from the floor by legs I'I and i8, the latter being spaced by the rods I9. Mounted on top of the bars I5' and I6 are aligned bearings 2I and 22.

The fruit brushing unit rI2 includes a pair of spaced heads 2l and 28, as seen in Fig. 5. Fixed to the heads 2l' and 28 are brushes 29 forming a continuous brushing surface 3B as seen in Fig. 55K

6. Rotatably mounted on the shaft 25 adjacent the heads 21 and 28 of the cylinder 26, are similar discs 33 and 34 formed to provide gear teeth 5 on the peripheries thereof. Rotatably mounted between the discs 33 and 34 is a plurality of rotary brushes 31 having suitable trunnions 38 and 39 on opposite ends thereof, the latter being journalled in the discs 33 and 34 respectively. The brushes 31 are equally `spaced to provide fruit receiving channels 40 therebetween. Fixed on the trunnions 39 of the brushes 31 are sprockets 42 as shown in Figs. 2 and 5.

Rotatably mounted in suitable apertures in the discs 33 and 34 are rods 44 to which brushes 45 are secured, the latter being normally positioned to close the fruit receiving channels 40 as shown in Fig. 6. Fixed on one end of each of the rods 44, adjacent the outside face of the disc 33, is a lever 46, as shown in Fig. 5. Rotatably mounted on one end of each of the levers 46 is a roller 41. Connected at their ends to the levers 46 and suitable pins provided in the disc 33 are extension springs 48 which tend to urge the levers 43 into Contact with stop pins 49 on the disc 33. Hung from the bar I5 of the frame I I on vertical bars 50 and 5| is a cam 52 positioned to engage the rollers 41 of the levers 46 as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The brushing unit drive mechanism I3 includes a stud 55 mounted on the disc 34 as shown in Fig. 5. Rotatable on the stud 55 is a combined sprocket 56 and pinion 51, the sprocket 56 being aligned radially with the sprockets 42 of the brushes 31. Fixed on the shaft 25 so as to mesh with the pinion 51 is a gear 58 shown in Fig. 5.

' Trained about the sprocket 56 and engaging each of the sprockets 42 is an endless chain 60.

Mounted on the bar I6 of the frame I I .is a gear box 62 in which shafts 63 and 64 are mounted as shown in Fig. 3. Fixed on the shaft 63 is a gear 65 meshing with gear 58 of the shaft 25. The shaft 64 is driven by shaft 63 by means of gears 66 and 61 within the gear box 6 2. Fixed on the ends of the shafts 63 and 64 are sprockets 68 and 69, the purpose of which will be described hereinafter.

J ournalled in suitable bearings provided on the bars I5 and I6 of the frame II is a shaft 10 having a pair of gears 1I keyed thereto, the latter meshing with the teeth 35 of the discs 33 and 34. Fixed on an end of the shaft 10, as shown in Fig. 1, is a sprocket 13 positioned in alignment with the sprocket 69, the shaft 10 being driven by a chain 14 trained about the sprockets 69 and 13.

The fruit feeding mechanism I4 includes a delivery conveyor 80, and a feeder 82, the conveyor 80 including a shaft 85 journalled in suitable bearings 86 provided on the legs I1 of the frame II. Fixed on the shaft 85 are sprockets 81 about which chains 88 are trained, the latter carrying rollers 89.

Fixed on Opposite ends of the conveyor shaft 85 are sprockets 90 and 9| as shown in Fig. 1, the sprocket 9| being positioned to drive a chain 92 which is trained about the sprocket 68 of the gear box 62. The shaft 85 is driven by any suitable power means connected to the sprocket 90.

The feeder 82 includes a shaft 9| journalled in brackets 92, the latter being fixed to the bars I5 and I6 of the frame II. Fixed to the shaft 9| (as shown in Fig. 6) is an arcuate hopper 94 which is formed to provide upstanding end walls 96 and a downwardly disposed apron 91. The feeder 82 is operated by a shaft 98 journalled in a bearing 99 on the bar I5 as shown in Fig. 1. Fixed on opposite ends of the shaft 98 is a crank disc |00 and a pinion IOI, the latter meshing with the gear teeth 35 of the disc 33. Provided on one end of the feeder shaft 9|, as shown in Fig. 4, is a lever |03 which is operatively connected to the crank disc by a connecting rod I 04. Interposed between the conveyor 80 and the feeder 82 is an inclined drop board |06 supported by the bars I and I6 of the frame. Suitably mounted below the feeder 82 in concentric relation with the center of the washing unit I2 is a guard pan |01.

Operation, of the brusher When the conveyor 80 is set in motion to deliver fruit F to the brusher I0, the chain 92 extending from the sprocket 9| of shaft 85 causes the shaft 63 of the gear box 62 to rotate. Rotation of the shaft 63 is transmitted to the shaft 10 through the medium of the gears 66 and 61, sprockets 69 and 13, and chain 14. The discs 33 and 34 are driven at equal speeds by the gears 1| Aon shaft 10 in the direction indicated by the arrow a appearing in Figs. 2 and 6. The power mechanism for transmitting power from the conveyor 80 to the discs 33 and 34 is designed so as to cause these discs to rotate at a relatively slow speed (approximately 8 R. P. M. in actual practice).

The delivery conveyor 80 moves at a predetermined speed in relation to the discs 33 and 34 so that each time the conveyor 80 delivers a row of fruit to the feeder 82, the discs 33 and 34 move a distance equal to the center to center distance between any adjacent two of the brushes 31.

Rotation of the shaft 63 is transmitted to the shaft 25 by the gears 65 and 58 shown in Fig. 3, causing the cylinder 26 to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow b of Fig. 6. The gear 58 drives the gear 51 and sprocket 56 shown in Figs. 2 and 5, causing the brushes 31 to be rotated by the chain 60. 'I he speed of rotation of the brushes 31 in relation to the speed of the cylinder 26 is such that the peripheral speed of the brushes 31 is substantially equal to the speed of the brushing surface 30 of the cylinder 26, it being noted that the brushes 31 and cylinder 26 rotate in opposite directions.

As the discs 33 and 34 rotate, the brushes 45 Serve to close the channels 40 until the latter are disposed on the under side of the machine I0, at this time the levers 46 are swung by the cam 52 causing the brushes 45 to be swung outward as shown in Fig. 6.

As the brushing unit I2 is actuated in the aforedescribed manner, the fruit feeding mechanism I4 operates to control the delivery of fruit from the conveyor 80 to the brushing unit I2 as follows: The shaft 98 is rotated by engagement of the gear IDI thereon with the teeth 35 of the disc 33. The connecting rod |04 extending from the crank disc |00 to the lever |03 causes the hopper 94 to move from the solid line position in which it is shown in Fig. 6 to the dotted line position shown therein. The hopper 94 makes one complete oscillation each time a row of fruit is dropped onto the drop board |06. The apron 91 of the hopper 94 retains a row of fruit on the drop board |06, as shown in Fig. 6, and when the hopper 94 is lowered to the dotted line position, the fruit so retained is allowed to roll onto one of the brushes 45 and is carried into the channel 4D when the brush 45 swings into closing position. After being closed in the channels 40, the fruit is carried around the brushing unit I2 and subjected to the scrubbing action of the brushing surface 30, the rotary brushes 31 and the brushes 45. When the brushes 45 arrive at the bottom of the unit I2, they are swung to open position as aforedescribed allowing the brushed fruit to fall onto a suitable discharge conveyor H13.

It is desired to point out that the brusher l may be used for -any one of a number of different purposesA in the treating of fresh Whole fruit or other rollable objects. For instance, it may be used as a dry brusher to clean the fruit, or as a wet washer for washing the fruit, the machine in the latter case being prefer-ably operated while drenched with water played continually thereon in streams by an overhead piping system. The machine l might also be used for drying fruit in which case it is preferably placed in -a housing in which the air is rapidly circulated by a fan or other suitable mechanism. Where the latter use is made of the brusher IB, the housing would p-referably cover the periphery of the brushing unit |2 and permit air to be directed against the brushes 29, 31 and 45 while the unit is in operation. It is also contemplated that where the brusher ifi is to be used as a dryer, air for use in the drying function, might be introduced into the interior of the cylinder 26 by using a hollow shaft of relatively large diameter in place of the shaft 25, this hollow shaft having ports inside the cylinder 25, and the cylinder 25 having radial apertures in the brush backs thereof for permitting the air discharged intothe interior of the cylinder to pass outwardly around the fruit being handled by the brusher.

Referring now to Figs. 7 to 12 inclusive, I have shown therein a washer |20, comprising a modihed form of my invention, this washer including a soaking tank 12|, a brushing unit |22, a clean out mechanism |23, and a driving mechanism |24 for the brushing unit |22. Certain parts of the brushing unit |22 are similar to corresponding parts of the aforedescribed unit i2, and these are designated by similar reference characters with a prime added thereto.

The tank |2| includes identical side walls |25 (only one of which is shown), end walls |25 and |21, and a bottom |28. Extending over the end wall |26 is an inlet drop board |35, and positioned above the tank |2| and extending transversely thereof is an inclined fruit discharge chute ISI. Fixed to the side walls |25 are identical upstanding plates |33 (only one of which is shown), these having horizontal slots |35 therein as shown in Fig. '1. Supported between the plates |33 is an inclined drop board |31 for carrying fruit from the brushing unit |22 to the chute |3| in a manner to be described hereinafter.

Extending transversely of the tank |2| between the side walls |25 is a semi-circular member |45 having a. plurality of openings 54| provided at one side thereof. The entire innerI face of the member |25 is provided with closely spaced, yield-able lingers |42 of rubber or the like. Supported at its ends by the side walls |25 is a horizontal plate |43 spaced from the bottom |28 of the tank i2! to provide a horizontal passage |44. Extending upward from the plate |43 is a plate |55, this being spaced from the end Wall |26 of the tank |2| to provide a vertical passage |55, and extending from the plate |45 to the member |48 is a horizontal member |41. Journalled at its ends in suitable bearings provided on the side Walls |25 is a shaft 35, of a power driven paddle wheel |55 for feeding fruit from the tank |2| to the brushing unit |22 in a manner to be described hereinafter.

The brushing unit |22 is similar in co-nstruction to the aforedescribed brushing unit |2 lof the unit l5 excepting thatA the brushes 45 of the brusher i2 are not used in the brusher |22 of the machine |25. As seen in Fig. 7, the brushing unit |22 is mounted between the side plates |25 of the tank |2| in concentric relationv with the semi-circular member |45.

The cle-an out mechanism |23 includes a crank shaft |52 having a crank |53 at each end thereof. The shaft |52 is journalled in the plates |33 and driven in timely relation with the unit |22 by suitable gears |54 and |55. Supported at its ends within the slots |35 of plates |33 is a bar |51 having yieldable fingers |58 extending therefrom. Rigidly connected to the bar |51 is a pair of arms |55 connected to the cranks |53 of the shaft |52.

The driving mechanism |24 of the machine |20 is simil-ar to the mechanism I3 of the machine l0 excepting that a bearing |35 is substituted for the gear box 52 as seen by comparing Figs. 1 and 12.

Operation of the washer 120 The tank [2i is filled with suitable cleaning solution S to the approximate level shown in Fig. '7. Fruit to be w-ashed is delivered to the drop board |35 andallowed to fall into the solution S. The brushing unit |22 is rotated continuously and the paddle wheel |53 is driven in the direction indicated by the arrow in timely relation with the brushing unit |22. The wheel |55 engages the fruit floating in the solution S and discharges the fruit into the channels 40 of the brusher |22. The fruit is carried around by the brusher |22 and thoroughly brushed by the brushing surface 32' and cylindrical brushes 31.

The yieldable fingers serve to retain fruit in channels when the latter are disposed on the under side of the brusher |22. Rotation of the brushing unit |22 causes the solution S to circulate around the under side of the unit |22 and pass through the openings |4| of the member |45. 'Ihe solution constantly passes in the directions indicated by the arrows in Fig. '1 and tends to carry the soaking fruit to the paddle wheel |50.

After being carried around by the brushing unit |22, the fruit is cleaned out of the channels by the clean out mechanism |23, the lingers |58 thereof extending into and out of the channels 43 as shown in Figs. 9, 10 and ll. After being removed from` the channels 4K1', the fruit rolls downl the drop board |31 and is discharged from the machine |25 by the chute I3 vIt is thus seen that the machine |25 provides a simple and compact unit for soaking, submerging and brushing fruit.

Although I have shown and described but one preferred and one modified form of my invention, it is to be understood that many modications and changes might be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended lclaims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a fruit treating machine, the combination of: a frame; a relatively large cylinder rotatably mounted on said frame; means on the outside of said cylinder providing a fruit treating surface; a plurality of relatively small, rotatable fruit treating elements adjacent the fruit treating surface of said cylinder, the axes of said treating elements extending in parallel relation with the axis of said cylinder, said fruit treating elements being spaced from each other to provide |42 of the member' |40A fruit receiving channels therebetween; means for retaining said fruit in saidchannels; means for rotating said fruit treating: elements in a common direction of rotation; and means for revolving all of said fruit treating elements as a unit about the axis of said large cylinder in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of said cylinder.

2. In a fruit treating machine, the combination of: a frame; a power driven shaft on said frame; a pair of spaced, circular plates rotatable on said shaft; a cylinder xed on said shaft between said plates; means on the outside of said cylinder providing a fruit treating surface; a plurality of relatively small, cylindrical fruit treating elements adjacent the fruit treating surface of said cylinder, said elements being journalled in said plates and spaced to provide fruit receiving channels therebetween; movable closure means extending between said plates over said channels to retain fruit therein; means for rotating each of said cylindrical fruit treating elements about their respective axes; means for rotating said plates at uniform speed in a direction of rotation opposite to that of said cylinder; control means for opening said closure means to permit removal of fruit contained in said channels, said closure means being retained in open position after removal of treated fruit to permit recharging said channels with fruit to be treated.

3. A combination as in claim 2 having means for automatically opening each of said closure means when said channels are disposed on the under side of said cylinder to permit said treated fruit to gravitate from said channels.

4. In a fruit treating machine, the combination of: a relatively large, rotatable cylinder having a fruit treating surface on the outside thereof; a plurality of relatively small, rotatable fruit treating elements adjacent the outside of said cylinder, the axes of said elements being parallel with the axis of said cylinder, said treating elements being spaced from each other to provide fruit receiving channels therebetween; means for rotating each of said elements; means for moving all of said elements as a unit about said cylinder; stationary means on the under side of said cylinder to retain fruit in said channels; means for feeding fruit to be treated to said channels; and means to remove treated fruit from said channels.

5. In a fruit washing machine, the combination of: a tank containing cleaning solution; means on said tank providing an endless brushing surface, said surface being partially submerged in said solution and movable in a given direction; a plurality of rotatable brushes adjacent said endless brushing surface, said rotatable brushes extending transversely of the direction of travel of said brushing surface and being spaced to provide fruit receiving channels therebetween, said rotatable brushes being movable as a unit relative to said endless brushing means; means for feeding fruit from said solution to said channels; and means for removing said fruit from said channels after the latter has been submerged in said solution and brushed by said brushing surface and said rotatable brushes.

6. In a fruit washing machine, the combination of: a tank containing cleaning solution; a cylinder rotatably mounted in said tank, about a horizontal axis, the lower portion of said cylinder being submerged in said solution; means on the outside of said cylinder providing a. brushing surface; a plurality of relatively small cylindrical brushes adjacent said brushing surface, said brushes being spaced to provide fruit receiving channels therebetween, each of said brushes being rotatable about an axis parallel with the axis of said cylinder; means for rotating all of said cylindrical brushes as a unit about the axis of said cylinder in the same direction as that of said cylinder; means for feeding fruit from said solution to said fruit receiving channels, said fruit being submerged in said solution and brushed while remaining in said channels; and means for removing said fruit from said channels after said fruit has been brushed.

7. In a machine for treating rollable objects, the combination of a drum rotatably mounted on a horizontal axis; means for rotating said drum; a series of object spacing rotary brushes disposed parallel with said drum in spaced relation with each other and the exterior surface of said drum; means for causing said brushes to progress over said surface while maintaining said spaced relations; means for rotating said brushes; means for feeding rollable objects to the spaces between adjacent brushes; and means for receiving objects from said spaces.

8. A combination as in claim 7 in which means is provided for covering the spaces between adjacent brushes from the outside between the times objects are received in and discharged from said spaces, said space closing means, progressing with said elements and comprising individual covers for said spaces said covers being individually operable to uncover the respective spaces covered thereby.

9. In a machine for treating fresh whole fruit, the combination of a drum having brush bristles on its exterior surface and rotatable on a horizontal axis; means for rotating said drum; a series of rotary brushes disposed in spaced relation with each other and with said bristle surface and parallel with said drum; means for rotating said brushes in the same direction; means for causing said brushes to progress over said bristle surface while maintaining said spaced relations; means for feeding fruit to the spaces between said brushes; and means for receiving fruit from said inter-brush spaces.

10. In a machine for treating fresh whole fruit, the combination of a drum having brush bristles on its exterior surface and rotatable on a horizontal axis; means for rotating said drum; a series of rotaryv brushes disposed in spaced relation with each other and with said bristle surface; means for rotating said brushes in the same direction as said drum; means for causing said brushes to progress over said bristle surface while maintaining said spaced relations to give said brushes and said drum equal relative peripheral speeds at points of propinquity; means for feeding fruit to the spaces between said brushes; and means for receiving fruit from said inter-brush spaces.

l1. In a machine for treating rollable objects, the combination of: a drum rotatably mounted on a horizontal axis; means forming a convex treating surface on the exterior of said drum; a series of object spacing and treating rolls disposed in spaced relation about said treating surface to receive objects to be treated on the drum treating surface; means for rotating said drum; means for causing said rolls to progress over said surface while maintaining said spaced relation; means for feeding rollable objects to and facilitating their discharge from the spaces between adjacent rolls; and means for rotating said rolls as they progress over said surface.

l2. In a machine for treating rollable objects, the combination of: a drum rotatably mounted on a horizontal axis; means forming a convex treating surface on the exterior of said drum; a series of object spacing and treating elements disposed in spaced relation about said treating surface; means for rotating said drum; means for causing said elements to progress over said surface while maintaining said spaced relation; means for feeding rollable objects to and facilitating their discharge from the spaces between adjacent elements, said elements having substantially cylindrical treating faces; and means for rotating said elements as they progress over said surface.A

13. In a machine for treating rollable objects, the combination of: a drum rotatably mounted on a horizontal axis; means for rotating said drum; a series of object spacing and treating rolls disposed in spaced relation with each other and the exterior surface of said drum to receive objects to be treated; means for causing said rolls to progress over said surface while maintaining said spaced relations; means for rotating said treating rolls as they are progressed over said surface; means for feeding rollable objects to the spaces between adjacent rolls; means for receiving objects from said spaces; and means for covering the spaces between adjacent rolls from the outside during the intervals between the receipt of objects in andthe discharge of the latter from said spaces.

14. In a machine for treating rollable objects, the combination of t a drum rotatably mounted on a horizontal axis; means for rotating said drum; a series of object spacing elements disposed in spaced relation with each other and the exterior surface of said drum; means for causing said elements to progress over said surface while maintaining said spaced relations; means for feeding rollable objects to the spaces between adjacent elements; means for receiving objects from said spaces; means mounted to cover the spaces between adjacent elements from the outside during the intervals between the receipt of objects in and the discharge of the latter from said spaces, said space covering means progressing with said elements and comprising individual covers for said spaces; and means for individually operating said covers to uncover the respective spaces covered thereby to permit objects to be admitted to and discharged from said spaces.

HALE PAXTON. 

